when the grocery store turned me into a meme legend

the accidental meme legend

so there i was, right, just minding my own business at the local grocery store. you know the drill, grabbing some essentials, probably arguing with the self-checkout about whether i want to buy 17 bananas or just 4 but make them count. classic. anyway, there's this dude with a camera phone just vibing near the chips aisle, filming like he's creating some kind of documentary. didn't think much of it. probably someone's cousin, i figured.

anyway, i walk out, stuff in the car, go about my day. few days later i start seeing myself pop up on things called "memes" (which, let's be honest, i thought was a fancy coffee place at first). at first i'm like "wait, why do i look so good in this? what moment did i not remember having??" and then i saw it. the caption. the aesthetic. the perfectly timed facial expression that i can't replicate if you paid me. turns out, i was unwittingly performing comedy. raw, unfiltered. just existing in a way that cracked people up.

people started tagging me. my friends did the sensible thing and said "burt, you're viral." my grandma though? she thought i was sick and needed help. "burt, are you in a 'phase'?? no judgment but maybe seek help." grandma, no, this is art. i'm making history. she didn't reply after that.

the best part? the comments. people were going insane. one person compared me to a potato which i will accept as the highest compliment because potatoes are underrated. another said i looked like they "found god in aisle 7" which honestly? i take that as a compliment or a warning. memes are supposed to make you feel something, right? well, they made ME feel something... mostly bewilderment combined with mild embarrassment.

but here's the thing, yeah, it went from "haha random" to "wait, i am the meme of the month" and that feels... weird. social media is wild. one minute you're buying cereal, the next you're international. i think about that kid in the background of my grocery store moment, who was just trying to pick out cereal in peace, and he's probably growing up in a world where he's a meme too. the internet's like this giant mirror but also full of confetti and questionable adhesives.

yet, here i am. a meme. a legend. the toast of the internet for about 72 hours and honestly? it’s kinda sick. like, when you think about it, being memed means you made an impression. even if it’s just a face someone photoshopped onto a rocket or something. writes that down

mood for this post: toasty. completely cooked but also genuinely grateful?? don’t ask me how my brain gets there. this is what quarantine tweets did to me - gave me too much time to reflect on being a viral potato.

anyway, the takeaway: if you ever accidentally go viral, embrace it. you've joined the ranks of people who will be remembered in 100 years for this one moment where you looked like you just ate a lemon. or whatever. don't ask me what i was doing. i don't remember. i think i was just existing and the universe decided to gif me for it.

so yeah, i got memed and it slaps. thanks, everyone. i owe you all a meme now... wait, can i be the meme next time? controversy. maybe i'll make it about grocery shopping. or bananas.